A villainous hero: Does the biological control agent, Anthonomus santacruzi, pollinate its target weed, Solanum mauritianum?

作者：Cowie Blair W^*; Witkowski Ed T F; Byrne Marcus J; Venter Nic

来源：Biological Control, 2017, 105: 79-85.

DOI：10.1016/j.biocontrol.2016.11.012

• Bugweed
• Florivory
• Indirect effects
• Insect-plant interactions
• Self-pollination

Weed biological control programmes frequently make use of flower feeding agents to reduce the fruit and seed output of invasive plants. Florivorous species have the potential for both direct and indirect effects on the reproductive success of their target plants. The flowerbud-feeding weevil, Anthonomus santacruzi, was first released in South Africa during 2008 for biological control of an invasive tree, Solanum mauritianum. This study assessed the impact of A. santacruzi florivory as well as the potential of the agent to act as an indirect pollinator. Floral damage caused by A. santacruzi was trivial, with only similar to 5% of the anther and similar to 2% of petal areas being removed. However, the subsequent effects of A. santacruzi were considerably more damaging, with 25% and 66% reductions in the flowering and fruiting of S. mauritianum inflorescences respectively. Additionally, fruit produced from inflorescences exposed to A. santacruzi were smaller in size, with fewer viable seeds. This suggests that in areas with well-established A. santacruzi populations, the agent may facilitate the self-pollination and subsequent inbreeding of S. mauritianum.

• 出版日期2017-2